America’s Cup transformed by radical changes

The America’s Cup, sailing’s most iconic event, has been re-energized and rejuvenated, ready for 2013 and the future.

The best sailors in the world will race on the fastest boats with the introduction of an exciting wingsail catamaran.

To build interest and audiences ahead of the 34th Match in 2013 is a new annual World Series, commencing in 2011.

A clear vision for the future led to analysis of the best practices in other major sports. Six months of dialogue with potential teams and stakeholders followed, resulting in the transformed competition details that were released today.

Team New Zealand expect to mount a challenge at the next America’s Cup, but will make a final decision after studying the details of the changes announced today to the yachting regatta.

New holders Oracle Racing of the United States and an Italian syndicate representing the challengers confirmed that the next event would be in 2013 and be sailed in AC72s, a new class of 72-foot catamaran with a wing sail.

The venue will be decided later this year.

Team NZ managing director Grant Dalton said his syndicate were encouraged by the 2013 date rather than the other suggested possibility of 2014.

The last multi-team event was in 2007, before a bitter court battle between Oracle and then-holders Alinghi of Switzerland led to a head-to-head battle in giant multihulls this year from which other challengers were locked out.

As to where Team NZ stood at the moment, Dalton said they would need time to consider the protocol unveiled today and consult with other challengers to see if it created a fair playing field.

“We are in there now in the America’s Cup,” he said.

“We need to consider where we sit in terms of our ability to win.”

Dalton said the budget was a consideration, but he had no doubts in Team NZ’s ability to design, build and sail an AC72.

If the decision was made to challenge, Team NZ would have to start work on a campaign within the next month.

TEAMORIGIN issued the following statement following the publication of the 34thAmerica’s Cup Protocol and the information presented at the America’s Cup Press Conference in Valencia.

Grant Simmer, CEO of TEAMORIGIN, gave his comments today:

“The whole America’s Cup community has been waiting a long time to get solid information on the 34th America’s Cup, and so today is a positive day for TEAMORIGIN and all prospective teams. The Protocol and the announcements give us many important pieces of information, much of it we heard for the first time today. Furthermore the Defender commented at the press conference, that we will be receiving more important information over the coming months.”

“2013 is the year of the next Cup. We now know that for sure. There were a lot of new elements published today and a lot of changes have been made to the first Protocol draft published in June. For instance designers are able to work for more than one team, which is an interesting and significant change from past Cups. We will now review the new Protocol document and associated information to see if this matches our expectations, and we look forward to meeting the Defender with the other prospective challengers, to discuss the many detailed questions that today’s Protocol has inevitably brought to light.”

Ben Ainslie, TEAMORIGIN Skipper and Helmsman, added his thoughts,

“It is great to finally have an idea of the future for the America’s Cup. Challenging in multihulls will be an interesting proposition for all of the teams. The game starts here.’

Peter Montgomery who has covered live every race sailed in an America’s Cup and Louis Vuitton Cup since 1986/87 in Fremantle was unexpectedly in Valencia for the America’s Cup announcement last night (NZT) and spoke with BMW Oracle Racing’s Murray Jones here

Gladwell’s Line: Hit in the face with a wet fish or a hot cat?

After the shock of last night’s announcement on the three elements of the 34th America’s Cup, we spent an hour at the Emirate’s Team NZ base this morning talking mainly with skipper Dean Barker, as to the team’s initial take on the changes.